When it comes to the common wisdom surrounding the Masters, there’s a prevailing belief that playing a right-to-left ball provides an advantage at Augusta National. However, top teacher Sean Foley disagrees, dismissing this notion as nothing more than a myth.
Augusta, Georgia – April 10, 2024
Martin Kaymer, a highly successful golfer with numerous accolades on the European Tour, including two majors and a Players Championship, has struggled to find similar success at the Masters. Out of twelve starts at Augusta National, Kaymer has missed five cuts and only managed to finish inside the top 20 once.
In the early stages of his career, Kaymer predominantly played a fade shot shape. While this shot worked well for his swing and eye, he believed it put him at a disadvantage when playing at Augusta National.
The common line of thinking regarding the Masters suggests that a right-to-left shot shape offers an advantage. Right-handed players who can hit a draw often find success easier than those who hit a fade, while the opposite holds true for lefties. This prevailing belief stems from the shape of the golf course itself. Many of the holes at Augusta National, such as 2, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, and 14, have fairways that bend from right to left. Being able to work the ball around these turns is considered advantageous. Additionally, the challenging 12th hole punishes shots that move from left to right, as they commonly end up finding Rae’s Creek.
While there is some truth to this wisdom, especially when considering past winners over the last two decades, the argument is now being challenged by Sean Foley. As one of the Top 100 Teachers in golf instruction, Foley argues that the need to consistently hit the ball left-to-right has diminished as the course has lengthened over the years.
“I don’t know why people still say that,” Foley emphasizes. “It’s just not even close to true. Like last year, we saw Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm aiming left in the trees and hitting block slices back into the fairway.”
With tee boxes being pushed back to counteract the distance boom in the game, the necessity for an artistic approach to shot shapes off the tee has diminished. Even players who naturally hit the ball left to right will rarely need to deviate from their familiar shot shape.
“When I first got to Augusta in 2007, you could draw it around the corner on hole 2, draw it around on hole 5, draw it around holes 9 and 10, and draw it around hole 13,” recalls Foley. “But that’s not the case anymore.”
A closer look at recent Masters winners supports Foley’s perspective. Defending champion Jon Rahm plays a fade, as does Scottie Scheffler. Even Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth, both major winners and world-class players, choose to play a fade. It seems that being a right-to-left shot shaper is no longer a prerequisite for success at the Masters.
“People often say, ‘Hey, you have to draw the ball here.’ And it’s like, ‘I don’t think so,’” Foley remarks. “That’s just an old adage that people need to challenge.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Is playing a right-to-left ball advantageous at Augusta National?
No, according to top teacher Sean Foley, this belief is a myth. The need to hit the ball left-to-right consistently is no longer the case as the course has grown longer over the years.
What is the reasoning behind the right-to-left advantage theory?
Many holes at Augusta National have fairways that bend from right to left. Being able to work the ball around these turns was traditionally seen as beneficial. Furthermore, the demanding 12th hole punishes shots that move from left to right.
Can players who hit the ball left to right still find success at Augusta?
Yes, recent winners such as Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler, Dustin Johnson, and Jordan Spieth, who predominantly play fades, demonstrate that a right-to-left shot shape is no longer a prerequisite for victory at the Masters.
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